One source told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com that the discussions are serious enough that he believes that Hernandez will wind up as a Met, though he stopped short of offering a guarantee. The source added that Alderson was trying to expand the deal to include left-handed reliever Matt Reynolds.

Hernandez is nearly ready to return to action after suffering a hand injury, but Wilin Rosario has since taken over as Colorado's starting catcher. The 36-year-old is in the first season of a two-year, $6.4MM pact.

same Shoppach is batting .288 and over .500 slugging % and Hernandez is batting around .215 and sub .400 slugging % plus Hernandez has a -.6 WAR and Shoppach has a 1 WAR… Shoppach is clearly a better fit

It’s not just about the stats. It’s age, cost and what the other team wants. The Rockies will ask for a decent sum for Ramon, while the Red Sox won’t ask much for a career (not in 2008) back-up catcher. Plus, Shoppach’s splits VS R/L make it clear that this is a good back up platoon option.

I can tell you as an O’s fan that had to suffer through watching Ramon…you don’t want him. He is the laziest catcher I have ever seen in my life. Plus once he actually starts to hit, he looks at the field and breaks an arm or something and goes on the DL for a few months. Sorry I am slightly bitter.

Ramon is having a serious down year, so I don’t really get it too much. He was an absolute beast for the Reds the last two years, so I’m glad we decided to part ways while he was at the top of his game. I always loved me some Clutch-Man-Monie.

lets break up the club house chemistry for a bad C and a bad RP, sounds like a good idea. maybe he is trying to get the club to lose so he can trade away bigger pieces like Santana for better prospects

Tapia, Tovar, den Dekker and Edgin aren’t going for bookmarks, if there going at all. Tovar and den Dekker from a defensive standpoint have been ready for a couple of years now, just waiting for the sticks to catch up. Trade one of them now and your scrounging around in Alex Cora and Gary Mathews Jr’s neighborhood when someone gets hurt and Tapia and Edgin’s potential…………Please.

I like this idea. The lefty from Colorado is pretty good and if we can get Hernandez as well…he’ll be an upgrade from Nickeas offensively. Den Dekker is the only name mentioned that might hurt. Defensively he’s already a major league ready CF. He seems to be figuring it out offensively, despite the bad AAA numbers (100 ABs is too small a sample to write him off)

den dekker is going on 25, he is what he is. he’ll never hit major league piching enough to be a regular. i still wouldN’T give him up for the kind of guys being discussed. but i’d give him up WAY before domingo tapia. a 20 year old who effortlessly throws a high 90’s sinker with developing secondary stuff?

THATS THE ONE YOU KEEP. unless he’s part of a package for a front line guy

den Dekkers floor is Jason Pridie and that could be very valuable if our CFer went down with an injury. He could literally be a season saver. He also hits doubles and HR’s, steals bases and hits leftys as well as rightys so he doesn’t need to be platooned. That means you don’t need 3 different guys on your roster that can play CF.

Not saying he will hit for a high enough average or drop his K’s enough to make it but trading him for a LOOGY or 36 year old catcher is exactly the type of move that could leave us without a CFer for years to come. I like Valdespin there a lot but who knows and Ceciliani has been hurt both of his first two seasons and after that your talking Nimmo in A- who will probably be a RFer if he makes it.

Lastly what if den Dekker does hit for average? You could be talking about a damn good CFer for 7-8 years. For a LOOGY or crossover?

den Dekker wouldn’t even count against next years 40 man roster so you’ve got emergency AAA depth without using a roster spot next year unless you need him and that allows you to protect a slower developing prospect as well.

Hernandez is much better than a .215 hitter…he’s been hurt this year – hence the DL stint. If he comes back and his bat shows any signs of life it’s a good move. It will be nice to have a back up catcher who isn’t chiseled in stone into the 8th spot in the line up.

i actually wouldnt want to give up any of those people for a backup catcher other than maybe edgin…im skeptical about den dekker but centerfield defense is always valued…and right now…i absolutely do not want tovar or tapia included

Just heard Sandy Alderson in an interview and he was asked specifically about the Mets’ catching situation and any plans to improve it. He gave a typical PC answer about how hard their catchers work and how they ‘follow the game plan’, and how ‘Chemistry’ is an important factor. He mentioned how he wasn’t too keen on trading for a good hitting back-up, if he didn’t fit in with the chemistry. Alderson mentioned that he had done that in the past and it did not work out, so he would be very careful before making a trade like that again.

That sounds to me like he won’t make that trade unless he gives up very little.